D—2.

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are provided and protected. Do you concur ?" To which I replied : " I quite concur, but I cabled to this effect on Friday, and on Saturday night to provide necessary clothing." This morning I received the following message from Captain Boyd: " Consul taken arrangements emigrants from me. I will protest, as can manage cheaper. Answer." To which I replied at once : " Don't protest, but co-operate with Consul." And desired to know if the ship would be able to proceed, and what detention there would be. To the last I have received the following reply : " Expect Bhip proceed without great detention. Damage uncertain." Since then I have received copy of message despatched at your request by the Foreign Office, which does not appear to me to be quite in accordance with that you intimated you were about to send; but I hope that my last cablegram to Captain Boyd may prevent any rupture between him and the Britisli Consul; at the same time I cannot consent to Captain Boyd being put on one side, aud the expenses in connection with the emigrants left entirely to the British Consul. This company is quite ready to undertake all the responsibilities in regard to the passengers per " Piako," and to the forwarding them to their destination, and to give the undertaking provided for in the 15th section of the Passenger Act, and I do not think there is any necessity to ask the interference of the British Consul, beyond seeking any support and assistance he can render the master of the vessel under the trying circumstances in which he is placed. I have, &c, O. E. Strickland, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Manager.

Enclosure 6 in No. 23. Managek, New Zealand Shipping Company, to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) 19th November, 1878. Captain Botd, " Pialco," wires that Consul has taken arrangements for emigrants out of his hands, and protests against it. Have cabled him not to protest but co-operate. Will you cable Consul that he is Bimply to assist and support Boyd. Not to put him on one side. The following message just received: — " Expect ship proceed without great detention, damage unascertained." The Agent-General for New Zealand. Stbickland.

Enclosure 7 in No. 23. Agent-Genebal to Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company. (Telegram.) 19th November, 1878. The foreign Office was asked yesterday to wire English Consul as follows : —" See that New Zealand emigrants are properly cared for, and suitable arrangements made for despatching them to destination. The shipowners are liable. If captain refuses to pay for what you consider necessary, pay under protest. Wire from time to time your action." Julius Vogel, The Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Enclosure 8 in !No. 23. Mr. J. Buanston to the Agent-Geneeal. Sir, — Downing Street, 19th November, 1878. I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to acknowledge your letter of the 18th instant, and to acquaint you that ho has requested the Marquis of Salisbury to instruct Her Majesty's Consul at I'ernambuco by telegraph to afford the desired assistance to the persons landed from the" Piako." L have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Beanston.

No. 24. The Agent-G-exeral to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 22nd November, 1878. I have the honor to enclose copy of a telegram which I addressed to the Hon. the Premier yesterday. An extensive strike amongst the agricultural labourers in the Counties of Kent and Surrey has thrown a large number of men out of employ. A large number of these men, I have reason to believe, would make very suitable emigrants for New Zealand, and this strike, and the apparent prospect of there being a scarcity of work for them during the approaching winter, will make many of them who have not cared to do so before willing to emigrate. I thought it right to acquaint you with the fact that there existed apparently a good opportunity of obtaining a number of emigrants especially suited for the colony. As you are aware, I was not in a position to act without further authority, as the number of emigrants which I was instructed to send out during the present year has now been completed. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General,